hanlon



4 Sheets-Sheet 1..

(No Model.)

J. HANLON. APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING WOOD GAS.

No. 432,939. Patented July 22, 1890.

Jill/67am: iAA Z6,

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. HANLON. APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING WOOD GAS. No. 432,939. PatentedJuly 22, 1890' 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

. J. 'HANLON.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING WOOD GAS. No. 432,939. Pa tented JuLy 22,1890.

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Witnesses (No Model.) 4 sheets sheet 4. J. HANLON. APPARATUS FORMANUFACTURING WOOD GAS. No. 482,939.

Patented July 22, 1890.

Witness THE mums PETERS co., PHOTOL Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN IIANLON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING WOOD-GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 432,939, dated July22,1890.

Application filed April 13, 1889.

To all whom'it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN HANLON, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, have invented certain .new and useful Improvements in Apparatusfor Mannfacturing WVood Gas; and I dohereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

This invention relates to apparatus for manufacturing gas from wood andhydrocarbon oil by separately distilling the wood in one or more heatedretorts, and, at the same time, vaporizing hydrocarbon oil; then mixingthe wood-gas and hydrocarbon-oil vapor in a retort and thereinsubjecting them to a sufliciently high heat to combine and convert theminto a fixed gas.

The object of the invention is to provide a compact and efficientapparatus, consisting of wood-distilling retorts, oil-Vaporizers, and acarbureting and fixing retort, all arranged in a single bench or furnaceand adapted to economically manufacture illuminating-gas.

Another object is to provide for storing the wood charcoal in anair-tight chamber as it is discharged in a heated condition from theretort, so that it may be preserved without being burned by contact withthe air.

The matter constituting my invention will be defined in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal section on the line 00 a:(see Fig. 8) through one of the wood-gas retorts and thecharcoalchamber. Figs. 2 and 3 represent sectional detail views showingthe oil-vaporizing pipe as located in a fine of the furnace. Fig.4represents a vertical longitudinal section on the line y y (see Fig. 8)through the carburetin g and fixing retort and the furnace, also showingthe charcoal-receiver in elevation. Fig. 5 represents a longitudinalvertical section through the divided hydraulic main, showing theconnecting dip-pipes. Fig. 6 represents a front elevation of the retortsand furnace. Fig. 7 represents a transverse section of the same. Fig. 8represents a top Serial No. 307,159. (No model.)

plan view of the retort-furnace and charcoalchamber.

The retort-furnace A is constructed with the usual fire-box, grate, andash-pit, and is provided at the top of the fire-box with arch a, andmeans for supporting the retorts. Lateral flues t t lead from thefire-box below the arch into the retort-chamber T. Lateral flues z leadout through the side walls, and are closed at their outer ends with capsAbove arch a, and between the retorts B B, I construct a tile partitiona, extending from the rear'o'f the furnace at the chimney-opening tonear the front of the furnace,so as to form a return-fine a between itand arch a. The retort O is supported upon blocks above partition ct, soas to form a flue 1) between them, as shown in Figse and '7. The chimneyw rises from flue u, at the rear of the furnace, and extends above thefurnace in the form of a stack. It is provided with a damper r. Theretort 0 extends back into the furnace to near chimney w, and thewooddistilling retorts B B extend through the front and rearfurnace-walls on each side of the chimney, as shown. At the rear endeach retort B is provided with a coupling-neck or mouth-piece e, andeach mouth-piece has within it a short lip f, which is slightlyinclined, as shown in Fig. 1, and forms a seat for the water-cooledswinging lid or door F. An operating-handle f connects with the 1101-low shaft of the lid outside of the mouthpiece, as shown in S.

I couple to mouth-piece e, the charcoalchamber D,by means of its shortneck d. The charcoal chamber is mounted on wheels, which run on asuitable track, as shown, and is provided with a tight-fitting door d.This chamber D is preferably provided with two coupling-necks d, forconnecting with the two woodgas retorts, as shown in Fig. 8.

In the upper brick-work of the furnace, preferably on each side of theretort-chamber T, I form the longitudinal flues 0, and connect suchflues at. their front ends by means of short fines t directly withretort-chamber T, and at their rear ends by means of fines p withchimneyw. The flues p are constructed on top of the furnace at its rearend, and are provided with slide-dampers r.

B y means with retort C on each side thereof.

of the damper 0" in chimney w and the dampers r in fines p the flow ofhot products of combustion is controlled. By partially closing damper rand partly opening dampers *r the desired volume of hot products ispassed through flues o, for heating the oil-vaporizing pipes.

The oil-vaporizer G is closed at its front and rear ends, and hasextending through it a smaller pipe g" open at its rear end. Theoil-supply pipe g connects with the inner pipe gf, and'a vapor-escapepipe g connects with the front end of vaporizer G and extends throughthe lower end of gas-pipe M into the lower part of retort O, as shown inFigs. 4 and.6. As shown in Fig. 6, an oil-vapor pipe 9! leads from eachvaporizer G, and connects The retort O is divided longitudinally by ahorizontal diaphragm c, which extends from the front of the retort tonear its rear end, forming an upper and lower chamber and a connectingpassage at the rear end. Retorts B and C have the usual tight-closinglids b c.

Stand-pipes L L connect the wood retorts B B with chambers J J of thehydraulic main H, and pipes M M connect the same chambers of thehydraulic main with retort Obelow partition 0. A stand-pipe N, leadingfrom the top chamber of retort C, connects with the chamber I of thehydraulic main, and gas take-off pipe 0 leads from said chamber I to thewasher or holder. (Not here shown.) As shown in Fig. 5, the hydraulicmain is divided by vertical transverse partitions it into the threechambers I J J. The overflow-pipe P leads from each chamber of thehydraulic main for conduct-ing off tar, pyroligneous acid, 850.

The operation is conducted as follows: A fire is kindled in the furnaceand the retorts are heated in the usual manner. When properly heated,the retorts B B are charged with wood and tightly closed, whendistillation and generation of gas will commence. As the wood-gas isgenerated it passes up through pipes L L, as shown by the arrows, intochambers J J of the hydraulic main, where its tarry matter andpyroligneous acid are condensed and deposited. The gas now passes downpipes M M into the lower chamber of retort G, into which there is alsoadmitted at the same time hydrocarbon-oil vapor through pipes g g fromthe Vaporizers G. The oilvapor pipes preferably project into retort C,so that the wood-gas comes in behind the escaping oil-vapor and carriesit forward and intimately mixes with it in the lower chamber of theretort. In passing. through the upper and lower chambers of the retortO, the oil-vapor and wood-gas are combined and converted into a fixedgas. In practice the v oil-supply pipes g, leading to the Vaporizers,

into charcoal. Then the supply of oil and vapor is shut off. Thecharcoal-chamber D is now coupled to the retorts B, the lids F are swungopen, the lids b are also removed, and the charcoalis shoved back intochamber D, as indicated in Fig. 1. The charcoal having been removed fromthe retorts into chamber D, such chamber is disconnected from theretorts and tightly closed and then moved off on the rails. The retortsare then closed at the rear end and again charged with wood. After theremoval of charcoal from the retorts, an empty chamber D may be coupledthereto and lid F closed on its seat. Then the retort may be rechargedwith wood. When wood-gas is again generated, the hydrocarbon oil isagain admitted to the Vaporizers G, and the resulting vapor is admittedinto retort 0 together with the wood-gas and converted into a fixed gas,as before described. By means of the tines t, u, and o the retorts areuniformly heated; and by means of the fiues 0, p, and t and the dampersr the oil- Vaporizers are heated to the desired temperature, so as tovaporize the oil without burning it. It is quite advantageous tovaporize the oil and supply it hot to the hot wood-gas, as the two maythus be very readily combined and fixed. By means of the closedcharcoal-chamber I am enabled to preserve the charcoal in good conditionfor the market.

Instead of the stand-pipes L L leading into the hydraulic main, and thereturn-pipes M M leading from the main to retort C, I may simply use alarge T pipe or coupling, leading directly from the inner sides ofretorts B B up into the bottom of retort O. This construction issimpler, and can be advantageously used where it is not desired tocondense and save the .pyroligneous acid and tarry matter. hung in themouth-pieces e of the retorts, may be hung in the necks d of chamber D,and fitted with suitable seats in such necks for making a tight joint.

Suitable clamping devices, as screw-clamps, or hooks and catches, may beused for holding the necks d of chamber D against the mouth-pieces e ofthe retorts at the time of discharging the charcoal from the retorts.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. The combination,with the wood-distilling retort provided at its rearend with a coupling-neck or mouth-piece, said mouth-piece having withinit a short lip which is slightly inclined, of the closedcharcoal-receiver having a neck adapted to be coupled to the mouthpieceof the retort and the swinging watercooled door fitted between theretort and the receiver and seating upon the inclined lip of the retortmouth-piece, and means for open ing and closing said door, whereby thecharcoal can be discharged from the retort into the receiver withoutinjury by access of air thereto.

The lids F, instead of being ITO 2. In combination with a bench ofretorts, a furnace for heating the same, an arch a between the furnaceand retorts, lateral finest 15, leading from the furnace below the archinto the retort-chamber, a tile partition a, extend ing from the rear ofthe furnace at the chimney-opening to near the front of the furnace soas to form a flue a between it and arch a, the retort C, and blockssupporting it above partition a, so asto form a flue 1; between themconnecting with the said flue 'a, as and for the purpose described.

3. In combination with the furnace and retort-chamber provided withsuitable lines, and achimncy having a damper, the side fines 0,containing the oil-vaporizing tubes and connecting with theretort-chamber, and fines P, having dampers 1", connecting lines 0 Withthe chimney, as and for the purpose described. 4. The combination of thewood-distilling retorts, the carbureting and fixing retort, suitablepipes connecting the Wood-distilling retorts with theearbureting-retort, the oilvaporizers set in fines of the furnace, saidflues connecting with the retort-chamber and with the chimney, andhaving a damper to control the passage of products of combustiontherethrough, pipes leading from the oil-vaporizers into thecarbureting-retort and opening beyond the mouth of the wood-gas pipe,whereby the infiowing Wood-gas will carry along and combine with theoil-vapor and form therewith a fixed gas.

5. In combination With the Wood-distilling retort and the carbnretingand fixing retort and a hydraulic main, the pipes L L, connecting suchwood-distilling retorts with the hydraulic main, and pipes M M,connecting such main with the carbureting and fixing retort, and thehydroearbon-vapor-supply pipes passing through the lower ends of suchpipes M and projecting into the carbureting-retort, as and for thepurpose described.

6. In combination with the wood-distilling retorts B, the carburetingand fixing retort 0,

having a diaphragm. or partition extending from its front end to nearits rear end, the pipes for wood-gas connecting with the front end ofthe retort 0 below the diaphragm, oilvaporizing tubes located in thewalls of the furnace and having pipe-connections extending into retort Oand opening beyond the mouth of the wood-gas pipe, and gas-escape pipeleading from retort 0 above its diaphragm to the hydraulic main, as andfor the purpose set forth.

7. I11 combination with the wood-distilling retorts and the carburetingand fixing retort, the hydraulic main divided by transversepartition-plates into three compartments I J J, the pipes L M, connectedto the chambers J J, and the pipe N, connecting the fixing-retort andthe chamber I, and a gas take-off pipe leading from the chamber 1, andeach compartment of the hydraulic main having an overfiow-pipe forconducting oif tar, pyroligneous acid, &c.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN HANLON.

Witnesses:

F. W. SEMKEN, FRANKLIN A. STEMMLER.

